Cut Down Two Men in a Row

"Su Xinghe!"

"Y-you... you... you're actually still alive?"

A grating voice like a broken gong interrupted the silent exchange between father and son.

"Heh heh..."

Su Xinghe smiled.

If he had not been at home, he would have stayed as far away as possible. But for his family's sake, he had to deal with the trouble before him as quickly as he could.

"You want silver, right..."

"There isn't that much at home. How about coming with me to the Brokerage Guild to get it?"

"Or we can leave the city. I know where the Breeding Cave is..."

As he spoke, he turned and headed for the door.

He was gambling—gambling that the two men would be curious why he had not died. More than that, he was threatening them, threatening them with the fact that he knew their true identities.

The instant he stepped into the courtyard, the hurried footsteps of the two men sounded behind him. Seeing that they had indeed followed, a trace of coldness surfaced on his face.

"Xiao He, where are you going?"

Su Cheng chased after him.

"Don't worry, Dad. I'll be back soon."

"Brother, I'm coming with you!"

Su Haitao followed as well.

What greeted him was a stern look.

With no good show to watch, the crowd gathered at the alley entrance scattered like birds and beasts. Only a small, thin figure remained crouching in the darkness by the wall.

As Su Xinghe passed, his left hand, hidden beneath his robe, casually made a gesture.

Little Beggar gave a slight nod.

Only after the three figures had disappeared into the distance did he sprint toward the ruined temple he called home.

"Where are you taking us?"

The broken-gong voice came from behind him, but Su Xinghe did not slow.

"There are too many people here. Let's find an empty corner and talk."

At those words, Wang Kuoyi laughed.

Though he was only an outer member of the Peaceful Heaven Sect, he was still a seasoned Inner Tempering apprentice. With the rewards bestowed by the Peaceful Branch, he would soon break through and become a martial artist.

"Heh... Don't think you can put on airs before me just because you learned some bed-strengthening technique. When I was learning martial arts, your whole family was still playing in the mud!"

He knew that Su Cheng and his son had a half-baked martial art. It seemed the other party had learned it too.

Seeing him speak this way, Su Xinghe asked in a low voice:

"Why did you target my father and them?"

Wang Kuoyi curled his lip, his face full of disdain.

"It wasn't me who sought them out. Your family came begging at our door, wanting to learn martial arts."

"So that was it..."

Su Xinghe understood.

His father must have wanted to earn more silver and secretly stepped onto the path of the gangs. But the Ascending Dragon Stance was merely a bed-strengthening technique; it could not circulate qi or infuse force at all.

"Uncle, why waste words with him? Just knock him out and drag him outside the city."

Behind them, Wang Yuan, who had remained silent all along, suddenly spoke.

He had long since grown impatient.

Wang Kuoyi glanced around.

Before he knew it, they had reached the depths of Tongzi Ward.

All around them stood dilapidated, abandoned earthen houses, with the city wall not far away.

Just as he was about to nod.

A spray of water suddenly exploded from the fetid ditch to one side.

Along with a thick stench of rot, several white skulls came smashing toward them.

"Who's there!"

He hurriedly raised a hand to shield his face, his feet moving as his body rapidly retreated.

Little Beggar darted in, taking the opportunity to hand over a chisel.

"Die!"

Su Xinghe took the steel chisel and moved in an instant.

The Golden Ape Fist, carrying more than three hundred jin of monstrous force, viciously stabbed toward the man's lower back.

With a thud, it struck home.

Wang Kuoyi staggered, then swept back with a retaliatory strike.

Bang!

The steel chisel was knocked away.

A force exceeding five hundred jin sent Su Xinghe flying.

"You brat, you're actually close to Inner Tempering!"

Wang Kuoyi clutched the wound on his lower back, warm liquid trickling over his fingertips.

He had not seen this boy for half a year. How had he suddenly become a martial artist apprentice? Could the Su Family's bed-strengthening technique truly temper qi-blood?

Su Xinghe had kept his secret well. Otherwise, Wang Kuoyi would never have followed him to such a remote place.

"It's you, little wretch!"

Wang Yuan did not react as quickly as his uncle. His face was smeared with foul water and mud, and he instantly flew into a rage, turning to pounce at Little Beggar.

"Boss..."

Su Xinghe's hand was trembling, but he still quickly rose to his feet.

"Kill!"

He gripped the chisel tightly and lunged forward like a hunting leopard.

Perhaps because his waist and back were injured, Wang Kuoyi's movements were hindered.

He stood where he was, one hand reaching for the steel chisel while the other jabbed upward from below.

A handful of white powder suddenly appeared, covering his eyes and face.

"Ah!"

Two breaths later, the steel chisel plunged into his bloodied eye socket.

"Boss, save me!"

Little Beggar had taken several punches and was now forced into the corner of an earthen house. Clutching his lower abdomen, he shouted loudly.

Fortunately, this young man was not a martial artist. Otherwise, he would have been captured long ago.

"You actually killed my uncle!"

Seeing Su Xinghe approach, Wang Yuan panicked.

His uncle was an Inner Tempering quasi-martial artist, said to be on the verge of Grade-Entering.

"Spare me..."

With a thud, he dropped to his knees.

Ten breaths later, two corpses were thrown into the foul ditch beneath the city wall.

"Are you all right?"

"Boss, I almost died just now..."

Little Beggar clutched his lower abdomen, his entire body shaking uncontrollably.

"I'll carry you back."

Su Xinghe had taken a few punches himself, but fortunately, his fate trait Unyielding was at work. In barely a dozen breaths, the searing pain in his chest had already eased considerably.

He carried Little Beggar back to the ruined temple.

He left behind two large coins for him to see a doctor the next day.

Under cover of night, Su Xinghe hurried back to the alley where his home stood.

"Brother, you're back!"

"Where are Wang Yuan and the others?"

Su Haitao had been waiting at the door. The moment he saw him return, he asked anxiously.

Hearing the commotion, Su Cheng came out as well.

"Xiao He, are you all right?"

Dim candlelight shone through the window onto Su Xinghe. His hair was disheveled, and he was covered from head to toe in dirt.

"I'm fine. They won't come again."

As he spoke, he walked to a corner of the courtyard.

He drew up a bucket of cold water from the well and silently washed himself.

In truth, he knew the trouble was far from over.

Though the Brotherhood was made up of ordinary people, behind it stood the Red Lotus Branch of the Peaceful Heaven Sect. He had to find a way to make his father and the others quit their work outside the city as soon as possible.

For instance, getting Haitao married first.

"Ah..."

Though he had his suspicions, Su Cheng swallowed them down.

His eldest son truly was different now.

That sharp, murderous aura on him was something he had only seen on the guards at Lu Family Farm.

After a while.

The four sat around the table.

Having dealt with the two unexpected followers, another problem still lay before them.

"Mother of the children, do we still have any silver at home?"

Rubbing his throbbing forehead, Su Cheng looked at his wife beside him, who had been quietly wiping away tears.

Over the past half year, father and son had saved less than a thousand coins at the farm. Even if they asked the steward to advance the next half-year's wages, it would not be enough for the wedding expenses.

"Yes... cough cough... yes, I'll get it."

Though Chen Guilan could not see exactly what had happened, she had heard the entire argument from the side.

Fortunately, her eldest son had lived up to expectations, and the problem had already been resolved.

Just as she was about to rise and return to her room for the money, Su Haitao, who had been silent all this time, suddenly pulled a dusty little pouch from his clothes.

"Dad, I have twenty taels of silver here. It's Yu'er's private savings, left to her by her parents."

"This child..."

"How can we spend her money on the betrothal gift? Tomorrow, go return it to Huaiyu."

Su Cheng's face burned slightly.

All that remained in his heart was deep guilt toward Brother Yang and his wife, who had already passed away. This was twenty taels of silver—likely the savings of their entire lives.

And his future daughter-in-law had actually handed all the money to his son.

"Mom, I have silver too."

Su Xinghe stood and pulled back his mother, who was about to return to her room for money. Under everyone's puzzled gazes, he went up to the loft alone.

From beneath his bed, he pulled out a crumpled little cloth bundle. This was the silver he had earned over half a year through more than a dozen life-and-death battles.

He had originally planned to use it to purchase a true martial art.

But now...

He focused inward, examining his mind.

"Su Xinghe: Great River Gang (Cannon Fodder Disciple)"

"Martial Path: Apprentice Grade (Force Infusion 96%)"

"Fate Trait: Diligence Makes Up for Dullness"

"Trait 1: Water-Tight, Unyielding"

"Trait 2: Many Grains Make a Tower, Success Follows Naturally"

"Golden Ape Fist (Hall-Entering) 955/1000"

"Ascending Dragon Stance (Hall-Entering) 566/1000"

"Incomplete Red Lotus Treasure Vase Qi 0/10000"

After tonight, he could break through his current realm.

Once he reached the Inner Tempering stage, he would have completed half of the second condition in his agreement with the Veteran's Trade House, and his wager with Elder Xie would also be within reach of victory.

As long as he made a trip to the old gang leader at the Brokerage Guild.

Not only would the steward position with its monthly salary of ten taels be his, but he would also receive ten bottles of Qi-Replenishing Pills to speed up his cultivation.

Just thinking about it made his heart race.

That was also the confidence that had made him dare to act, daring to kill two men directly within the city. As long as he displayed outstanding talent, he was confident the Brokerage Guild would step in to protect him.

After all, Lu Xuanji, the Lu Family's youngest genius, had taken a month to break through to Inner Tempering. And that was an achievement he had only managed with an unceasing supply of family resources.

Yet Su Xinghe had caught up to the record set by that genius in only twelve short days, relying on nothing but eating chicken.

But Su Xinghe suddenly changed his mind.

Now that he had a true martial art and his martial path was on track, he needed to adjust the way he had once acted without regard for consequences.

A mindset like "seeking wealth amid danger" was no longer advisable.

What he needed now was stability—victory through steadiness, steady progress.

In any case, he still had more than two months to shape himself into a genius who was not too monstrous, avoiding those malicious eyes watching from the shadows.

For example, Wang Kuoyi today...

If his true combat strength had not already been nearing Inner Tempering, how could he have been a match for those two?

At this thought,

Su Xinghe took out ten taels of silver from his small cloth bag and set them aside separately.

Carrying the remaining forty-odd taels, he went to the main hall.

"Father, this silver is for you."